Track counting system and method for recordable optical media

ABSTRACT

A tracking system for a drive includes a beam positioning actuator and a control module. The beam positioning actuator is configured to radially displace a laser beam relative to an optical storage medium. The control module is configured to increase a seek speed of the beam positioning actuator to a predetermined speed based on a seek command signal to move the laser beam to a target position on the optical storage medium. The control module is also configured to reduce the seek speed of the beam positioning actuator from the predetermined speed responsive to the laser beam being radially displaced within a predetermined distance of the target position on the optical storage medium.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/710,759 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,054,715) filed on Feb. 26, 2007, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/784,004, filedon Mar. 20, 2006. The disclosures of the above applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to optical drives and optical recordingdevices, and more particularly to tracking of blank recordable media.

BACKGROUND

The background description provided herein is for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of thepresently named inventors, to the extent the work is described in thisbackground section, as well as aspects of the description that may nototherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neitherexpressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the presentdisclosure.

Optical recording devices are used to record information, such as music,movies, pictures, data, etc., on recordable media. Examples ofrecordable media are compact discs (CDs), digital versatile/video discs(DVDs), high density/high definition DVDs and Blu-ray Discs (BDs). Inorder to record such information, a recording device tracks the locationof a laser beam on the recordable media.

Referring to FIG. 1, a side close-up view of a recordable media 10 isshown. The recordable media 10 has lands 12 and grooves 14, which areformed on a recording layer 16 of a main substrate 18. The mainsubstrate 18 may be adhered via an adhesive layer 20 to a dummysubstrate 22, as shown. The lands 12 and grooves 14 refer to physicalstructures of the recording layer 16, which are adjacent each other, buthave different associated depth. The grooves 14 have a larger associateddepth than the lands 12. A sample land depth D₁ and a sample groovedepth D₂ are shown. The depths are measured relative to and from a diskouter or entrance surface 24 and are equal to some fraction of opticalwavelength of the laser beam.

The purpose of land/groove structures is to provide servo informationfor positioning of a laser beam spot on a disc. The land/groovestructures provide reflected beam signal modulation that is detected fortracking purposes. The lands and grooves are also often created with asmall amount of waviness at a pre-determined characteristic frequency,referred to as “wobble”. This allows clock frequency extraction during arecording process.

Standards, such as DVD+/−R and DVD+/−RW, require recording only overgrooves. An alternative standard, referred to as DVD-RAM, requiresrecording over both land and groove structures. In DVD+/−R and DVD+/−RWrecording, the grooves and lands typically form a continuous spiral. InDVD-RAM recording, the land structures alternate with the groovestructures to form a continuous spiral.

Referring to FIG. 2, a sample optical DVD drive system 50 is shown andincludes a laser source 52, such as a laser diode, that provides a laserbeam 54. The laser source 52 may be part of an optical read/writeassembly (ORW) 56, sometimes referred to as an optical pick-up assembly.The ORW 56 includes a collimator lens 58, a polarizing beam splitter 60,a quarter wave plate 62, and an objective lens 64. The laser beam 54 iscollimated by the collimator lens 58 and passed through the polarizingbeam splitter 60. The laser beam 54 is received by the quarter waveplate 62 from the beam splitter 60 and is focused via the objective lens64. The laser beam 54 may be radially displaced across tracks of theoptical medium 68 through movement of the ORW 56 via a sled motor 66.The laser beam 54 is moved while the optical medium 68 is rotated abouta spindle axis 69. The laser beam 54 is shaped and focused to form aspot over the land/groove structures of an optical storage medium 68 vialens actuators 70.

The light from the laser beam 54 is reflected off of the optical medium68 and directed back into the ORW 56. The reflected light, representedby dashed line 72, is redirected by the beam splitter 60 and focusedinto a spot over a photo-detector integrated circuit (PDIC) 74 by anastigmatic focus lens 76. Although not shown, additional photo-detectorsmay be incorporated and used to detect other diffracted light beams notshown.

Referring now also to FIG. 3, a quad PDIC 100 is shown. The PDIC 100 hasan array of photo-detector sensors A-D that receive a focused reflectedlaser beam, such as the reflected beam 72. The intensity of thereflected and focused laser beam spot on the PDIC 100 is not uniform.The distribution of that intensity depends on the position of the beamspot on a recordable medium relative to the land/groove structures. Thelack of uniformity results in tracking error.

The tracking error is based on photo-detector output signals P_(A),P_(B), P_(C) and P_(D) of photo sensor elements A-D of the quad PDIC100. The tracking error (TE) or TE signal is provided by equation 1.TE=(P _(a) +P _(d))−(P _(b) +P _(c))  (1)The TE signal is zero when the beam spot is fully over a groove, whichis referred to as 100% on-track. The TE signal is also zero when thelaser beam spot is half-way between tracks, which is referred to as 100%off-track.

Referring now also to FIG. 4, a curve 120 of TE signal variation as afunction of beam spot position on a recordable medium is shown. The TEcurve 120 represents TE signal amplitude versus radial directionpositioning of a laser beam. The TE curve 120 is sinusoidal and hasmultiple zero-crossings 122, which represent different tracks. Tomaintain the beam spot on a track, the associated optical drive needs tolock onto the zero-crossing of a slope of the TE curve 120. In otherwords, the optical drive needs to detect the slope of the TE curve 120when the TE signal is zero. However, additional information is neededwhen moving between tracks, especially when moving across severaltracks. This is accomplished by monitoring the number of instances whenthe TE signal is equal to zero while radially moving the laser beam.

Misalignment can occur between the center of the recordable medium andthe spindle axis of rotation, such as the spindle axis 69. Thismis-alignment can cause “radial run-out”. For tracking purposes, whenthere is no radial run-out, it is sufficient to move the laser beam inone direction and count the number of zero-crossings of the TE signal.But typically, radial run-out occurs and causes the laser beam to crossone or more tracks. The radial run-out can alternate between radiallyinward and radially outward directions. This can occur when radialactuators and/or the associated sled motor are not being driven. As aresult, simply counting zero-crossings of the TE signal does not providethe aggregate and appropriate number of track crossings in onedirection.

To account for radial run-out, a second signal 130, referred to as aquad-sum (QSUM) signal, which is in quadrature to the TE signal, isgenerated and monitored. Referring to FIG. 5, a relationship between theTE signal and the QSUM signal are shown. The QSUM signal is alsosinusoidal and is shifted 90° in phase relative to the TE signal. TheQSUM signal is generated through the sum of the photo-detector outputsignals P_(A), P_(B), P_(C) and P_(D) as in equation 2.QSUM=P _(A) +P _(B) +P _(C) +P _(D)  (2)When the laser beam is positioned over a land region, the QSUM signal isat a maximum amplitude (a track boundary). When the laser beam ispositioned over a groove region, the QSUM signal is at a minimumamplitude. The QSUM signal provides an accurate technique for countingtrack crossings. A track crossing counter is incremented or decrementedat the zero-crossings 122 when the QSUM signal is at a maximumamplitude. Track crossings can also be defined as the moment when theQSUM signal is at a minimum amplitude, as denoted by dashed lines 132.

Unfortunately, for recordable optical media, the depth of modulation inthe QSUM signal depends greatly on the media type and whether the mediais written with user data or is a blank disc. The depth of modulationrefers to the amplitude difference in the QSUM signal between on-trackand off-track. The depth of modulation of the QSUM signal is shallow forblank recordable media. A shallow depth can render the QSUM signalvirtually ineffective for track center location determination. Thus, itis difficult to perform an accurate seek over a blank recordable mediadue to the lack of a high contrast QSUM signal. Optical driveperformance is degraded when a seek is inappropriately performed. Theimproperly performed seek is often detected after track following andreading of wobble information. This later detection forces anotherinaccurate seek when an attempt is initiated to move a read/write headto a target track position.

SUMMARY

A tracking system for a drive is provided and includes a beampositioning actuator and a control module. The beam positioning actuatoris configured to radially displace a laser beam relative to an opticalstorage medium. The control module is configured to increase a seekspeed of the beam positioning actuator to a predetermined speed based ona seek command signal to move the laser beam to a target position on theoptical storage medium. The control module is also configured to reducethe seek speed of the beam positioning actuator from the predeterminedspeed responsive to the laser beam being radially displaced within apredetermined distance of the target position on the optical storagemedium.

In other features, a tracking system for an optical drive is providedand includes a focus error module. The focus error module generates afocus error signal based on a difference between a first sensor outputsignal and a second sensor output signal, which are based on a reflectedportion of a laser beam that is reflected by an optical storage medium.A control module generates a tracking signal based on the focus errorsignal.

In other features, the tracking system includes an illumination devicethat directs the laser beam at the optical storage medium. A sensor thatreceives a reflected portion of the laser beam and that generates thefirst sensor output signal and the second sensor output signal. In otherfeatures, the illumination device includes a laser diode. In otherfeatures, the illumination device directs the laser beam at the opticalstorage medium, which is selected from at least one of a compact disc, adigital versatile/video disc, a high definition optical disc, a readonly medium and a recordable medium. In other features, the sensorincludes a photodetector.

In other features, the tracking system includes a depth estimationmodule that generates a depth estimation signal based on the focus errorsignal, wherein the control module generates the tracking signal basedon the focus error signal and the depth estimation signal.

In other features, the depth estimation module generates the depthestimation signal based on a plant model of a focus loop. In otherfeatures, the depth estimation module generates the depth estimationsignal based on a plant model of a focus loop, and wherein the plantmodel is based on a bode plot. In other features, the depth estimationmodule generates the depth estimation signal based on a functionalrepresentation of a focus control loop. In other features, the depthestimation module generates the depth estimation signal to indicate adepth of at least one of a land or a groove of the storage medium.

In other features, the control module generates the tracking signalfurther based on a track error signal.

In other features, the control module detects zero-crossings of thetrack error signal based on a depth estimation signal. In otherfeatures, the control module detects the zero-crossings based on apolarity of the track error signal and an amplitude of the depthestimation signal. In other features, the sensor module generates beamdetection signals, and wherein the control module generates the trackerror signal based on the beam detection signals.

In other features, a drive is provided that includes the above trackingsystem. In other features, the drive includes a motor that adjusts aposition of the laser beam. In other features, the motor adjusts aposition of the laser beam at a seek speed associated with a trackcrossing frequency that is greater than a disc distortion disturbancefrequency.

In other features, an optical drive is provided that includes the abovetracking system. In other features, the optical drive includes a motorthat is arranged to rotate a storage medium. The control module enablesthe motor and generates the tracking signal based on the focus errorsignal.

In other features, the optical drive includes a driver that communicateswith the control module. The control module reads from or writes to therecordable medium based on the tracking signal via the driver.

In other features, the motor adjusts a position of the laser beam at aseek speed associated with a track crossing frequency that is greaterthan a disc distortion disturbance frequency.

In other features, a method is provided that includes operating anoptical drive. A focus error signal is generated based on a differencebetween a first sensor output signal and a second sensor output signal.The first and second sensor output signals are based on a reflectedportion of a laser beam that is reflected by an optical storage medium.The laser beam is tracked to generate a tracking signal based on thefocus error signal via a control module.

In other features, the method includes directing the laser beam at theoptical storage medium. A reflected portion of the laser beam isreceived. The first and second sensor output signals are generated.

In other features, the method includes generating a depth estimationsignal based on the focus error signal. The tracking signal is generatedbased on the focus error signal and the depth estimation signal. Inother features, the depth estimation signal is generated based on aplant model of a focus loop. In other features, the depth estimationsignal is generated based on a plant model of a focus loop, and whereinthe plant model is based on a bode plot. In other features, the depthestimation signal is generated based on a functional representation of afocus control loop. In other features, the depth estimation signal isgenerated to indicate a depth of at least one of a land or a groove ofthe storage medium.

In other features, the tracking signal is generated based on a trackerror signal. In other features, the method includes detectingzero-crossings of the track error signal based on a depth estimationsignal.

In other features, the method includes detecting the zero-crossingsbased on a polarity of the track error signal and an amplitude of thedepth estimation signal. In other features, the method includesgenerating beam detection signals, wherein the track error signal isgenerated based on the beam detection signals.

In other features, the method includes adjusting a position of the laserbeam. In other features, the method includes adjusting a position of thelaser beam at a seek speed associated with a track crossing frequencythat is greater than a disc distortion disturbance frequency.

In other features, the method includes enabling a motor and generatingthe tracking signal based on the focus error signal.

In other features, the method includes reading from or writing to therecordable medium based on the tracking signal.

In other features, the method includes adjusting a position of the laserbeam at a seek speed associated with a track crossing frequency that isgreater than a disc distortion disturbance frequency.

In other features, a tracking system for an optical drive is providedand includes focus error means for generating a focus error signal. Thefocus error signal is based on a difference between a first and secondsensor output signals, which are based on a reflected portion of a laserbeam that is reflected by an optical storage medium. Control means forgenerating a tracking signal based on the focus error signal isincluded.

In other features, the tracking system includes illumination means fordirecting the laser beam at the optical storage medium. Sensing meansfor receiving a reflected portion of the laser beam and for generatingthe first and second sensor output signals is included. In otherfeatures, the illumination means includes a laser diode. In otherfeatures, the illumination means directs the laser beam at the opticalstorage medium, which is selected from at least one of a compact disc, adigital versatile/video disc, a high definition optical disc, a readonly medium and a recordable medium. In other features, the sensingmeans includes a photodetector.

In other features, the tracking system includes depth estimation meansfor generating a depth estimation signal based on the focus errorsignal. The control means generates the tracking signal based on thefocus error signal and the depth estimation signal. In other features,the depth estimation means generates the depth estimation signal basedon a plant model of a focus loop. In other features, the depthestimation means generates the depth estimation signal based on a plantmodel of a focus loop, and wherein the plant model is based on a bodeplot. In other features, the depth estimation means generates the depthestimation signal based on a functional representation of a focuscontrol loop. In other features, the depth estimation means generatesthe depth estimation signal to indicate a depth of at least one of aland or a groove of the storage medium.

In other features, the control means generates the tracking signal basedon a track error signal. In other features, the control means detectszero-crossings of the track error signal based on a depth estimationsignal. In other features, the control means detects the zero-crossingsbased on a polarity of the track error signal and an amplitude of thedepth estimation signal. In other features, the sensing means generatesbeam detection signals, and wherein the control means generates thetrack error signal based on the beam detection signals.

In other features, a drive is provided and includes the tracking system.In other features, the drive includes motor means for adjusting aposition of the laser beam. In other features, the motor means adjustsposition of the laser beam at a seek speed associated with a trackcrossing frequency that is greater than a disc distortion disturbancefrequency.

In other features, an optical drive is provided and includes one of theabove-stated tracking systems. In other features, the optical driveincludes motor means for rotating a storage medium. The control meansenables the motor means and generates the tracking signal based on thefocus error signal.

In other features, the optical drive includes driver means forcommunicating with the control means. The control means reads from orwrites to the recordable medium based on the tracking signal via thedriver. In other features, the motor means adjusts a position of thelaser beam at a seek speed associated with a track crossing frequencythat is greater than a disc distortion disturbance frequency.

In other features, a tracking system for a drive is provided andincludes a depth estimation module that generates a depth estimationsignal indicative of land or groove depth of an optical storage medium.The depth estimation signal is based on a sensor output signal and anerror signal, which are based on a reflected portion of a laser beam.The laser beam is reflected by the optical storage medium. A controlmodule generates a tracking signal based on the depth estimation signal.

In other features, the tracking system includes an illumination devicethat directs the laser beam at the optical storage medium. A sensorreceives a reflected portion of the laser beam and generates the sensoroutput signal. A focus error module generates a focus error signal basedon the sensor output signal. In other features, the illumination deviceincludes a laser diode.

In other features, the illumination device directs the laser beam at theoptical storage medium, which is selected from at least one of a compactdisc, a digital versatile/video disc, a high definition optical disc, aread only medium and a recordable medium. In other features, the sensorincludes a photodetector.

In other features, the tracking system includes a focus error modulethat generates a focus error signal, wherein the control modulegenerates the tracking signal based on the focus error signal and thedepth estimation signal. In other features, the focus error modulegenerates the focus error signal based on a difference between a firstsensor output signal and a second sensor output signal, which are basedon the reflected portion.

In other features, the depth estimation module generates the depthestimation signal based on a plant model of a focus loop. In otherfeatures, the plant model is based on a bode plot. In other features,the depth estimation module generates the depth estimation signal basedon a functional representation of a focus control loop.

In other features, the control module generates the tracking signalfurther based on a tracking error signal. In other features, the controlmodule detects zero-crossings of the tracking error signal based on adepth estimation signal. In other features, the control module detectsthe zero-crossings based on polarity of the track error signal andamplitude of the depth estimation signal.

In other features, the sensor module generates beam detection signals.The control module generates the track error signal based on the beamdetection signals. In other features, a drive is provided that includesone of the above tracking systems. In other features, the drive includesa motor that adjusts a position of the laser beam. In other features,the motor adjusts a position of the laser beam at a seek speedassociated with a track crossing frequency that is greater than a discdistortion disturbance frequency.

In other features, a method of operating an optical drive is providedand includes generating a depth estimation signal indicative of land orgroove depth of an optical storage medium. The depth estimation signalis based on a sensor output signal and an error signal, which are basedon a reflected portion of a laser beam. The laser beam is reflected bythe optical storage medium. The laser beam is tracked to generate atracking signal based on the depth estimation signal via a controlmodule.

In other features, the method includes directing the laser beam at theoptical storage medium. A reflected portion of the laser beam isreceived and the sensor output signal is generated. A focus error signalis generated based on the sensor output signal.

In other features, the method includes generating a focus error signal,wherein the tracking signal is generated based on the focus error signaland the depth estimation signal. In other features, the focus errorsignal is generated based on a difference between a first sensor outputsignal and a second sensor output signal, which are based on thereflected portion.

In other features, the depth estimation signal is generated based on aplant model of a focus loop. In other features, the plant model is basedon a bode plot. In other features, the depth estimation signal isgenerated based on a functional representation of a focus control loop.

In other features, the tracking signal is generated based on a trackingerror signal.

In other features, the method includes detecting zero-crossings of thetracking error signal based on a depth estimation signal.

In other features, the zero-crossings are detected based on polarity ofthe track error signal and amplitude of the depth estimation signal.

In other features, the method includes generating beam detectionsignals, and wherein the track error signal is generated based on thebeam detection signals.

In other features, the method includes adjusting a position of the laserbeam.

In other features, the method includes adjusting a position of the laserbeam at a seek speed associated with a track crossing frequency that isgreater than a disc distortion disturbance frequency.

In other features, a tracking system for a drive is provided andincludes depth estimation means for generating a depth estimation signalindicative of land or groove depth of an optical storage medium. Thedepth estimation signal is based on a sensor output signal and an errorsignal, which are based on a reflected portion of a laser beam. Thelaser beam is reflected by the optical storage medium. Control means forgenerating a tracking signal based on the depth estimation signal isincluded.

In other features, the tracking system includes illumination means fordirecting the laser beam at the optical storage medium. Sensing meansfor receiving a reflected portion of the laser beam is included. Thesensing means generates the sensor output signal. Focus error means forgenerating a focus error signal based on the sensor output signal isalso included. In other features, the illumination means includes alaser diode.

In other features, the illumination means directs the laser beam at theoptical storage medium, which is selected from at least one of a compactdisc, a digital versatile/video disc, a high definition optical disc, aread only medium and a recordable medium.

In other features, the sensing means includes a photodetector.

In other features, the tracking system includes focus error means forgenerating a focus error signal. The control means generates thetracking signal based on the focus error signal and the depth estimationsignal.

In other features, the focus error means generates the focus errorsignal based on a difference between a first and second sensor outputsignals, which are based on the reflected portion.

In other features, the depth estimation means generates the depthestimation signal based on a plant model of a focus loop. In otherfeatures, the plant model is based on a bode plot. In other features,the depth estimation means generates the depth estimation signal basedon a functional representation of a focus control loop.

In other features, the control means generates the tracking signalfurther based on a tracking error signal. In other features, the controlmeans detects zero-crossings of the tracking error signal based on adepth estimation signal. In other features, the control means detectsthe zero-crossings based on polarity of the track error signal andamplitude of the depth estimation signal.

In other features, the sensing means generates beam detection signals,and wherein the control means generates the track error signal based onthe beam detection signals.

In other features, a drive is provided and includes one of the abovetracking systems. In other features, the drive includes motor means foradjusting a position of the laser beam. In other features, the motormeans adjusts a position of the laser beam at a seek speed associatedwith a track crossing frequency that is greater than a disc distortiondisturbance frequency.

In other features, a tracking system is provided and includes a focusloop that adjusts focus of a laser beam and that generates a focus errorsignal based on a reflected portion of the laser beam that is reflectedby an optical storage medium. A generator generates a track errorsignal. A depth module, that generates a depth estimation signal that isindicative of a land or groove depth of the optical storage medium andbased on the focus error signal. A zero-crossing detector detects azero-crossing of the track error signal based on the depth estimationsignal.

In other features, the tracking system includes an illumination devicethat directs the laser beam at the optical storage medium. A sensorreceives the reflected portion of the laser beam and generates a sensoroutput signal. The focus loop generates the focus error signal based onthe sensor output signal.

In other features, the illumination device directs the laser beam at theoptical storage medium, which is selected from at least one of a compactdisc, a digital versatile/video disc, a read only medium, a recordablemedium and an optical storage medium.

In other features, the focus loop generates the focus error signal basedon a difference between a first and second sensor output signal, whichare based on the reflected portion.

In other features, the zero-crossing detector corrects zero-crossingsbased on a polarity of the track error signal and an amplitude of thedepth estimation signal.

In other features, the depth module generates the depth estimationsignal based on a plant model of the focus loop. In other features, theplant model is based on a bode plot.

In other features, the tracking system includes a track counter thatcounts track crossings based on a software algorithm when a seek speedis less than a predetermined speed. In other features, the track countercounts track crossings based on the track error signal and the depthestimation signal. In other features, the track counter counts trackcrossings based on a software algorithm when a seek speed is within apredetermined range. In other features, the track counter counts trackcrossings based on a hardware based algorithm when a seek speed isgreater than a predetermined maximum speed. In other features, the trackcounter counts track crossings based on the focus error signal and thetrack error signal.

In other features, an optical drive is provided and includes one of theabove tracking systems. In other features, the optical drive includes amotor that adjusts position of the laser beam. In other features, themotor adjusts position of the laser beam at a seek speed associated witha track crossing frequency that is greater than a disc distortiondisturbance frequency.

In other features, a method of operating an optical drive includesadjusting focus of a laser beam via a focus loop. A focus error signalis generated based on a reflected portion of the laser beam that isreflected by an optical storage medium. A track error signal isgenerated. A land or groove depth of the optical storage medium isindicated and a depth estimation signal is generated based on the focuserror signal. A zero-crossing of the track error signal is detectedbased on the depth estimation signal.

In other features, the method includes directing the laser beam at theoptical storage medium. The reflected portion of the laser beam isreceived and a sensor output signal is generated. The focus error signalis generated based on the sensor output signal via a focus loop.

In other features, the focus error signal is generated based on adifference between a first and second sensor output signals, which arebased on the reflected portion.

In other features, the zero-crossings are corrected based on a polarityof the track error signal and an amplitude of the depth estimationsignal.

In other features, the depth estimation signal is generated based on aplant model of the focus loop. In other features, the plant model isbased on a bode plot.

In other features, the method includes counting track crossings based ona software algorithm when a seek speed is less than a predeterminedspeed. A tracking signal is generated based on the track crossings andthe zero crossing. In other features, the track crossings are countedbased on the track error signal and the depth estimation signal.

In other features, the method includes counting track crossings based ona software algorithm when a seek speed is within a predetermined range.A tracking signal is generated based on the track crossings and the zerocrossing.

In other features, the method includes counting track crossings based ona hardware based algorithm when a seek speed is greater than apredetermined maximum speed. A tracking signal based on the trackcrossings and the zero crossing. In other features, the track crossingsare counted based on the focus error signal and the track error signal.In other features, the method includes adjusting position of the laserbeam.

In other features, the method includes adjusting position of the laserbeam at a seek speed associated with a track crossing frequency that isgreater than a disc distortion disturbance frequency.

In other features, a tracking system is provided and includes focus loopmeans for adjusting focus of a laser beam and for generating a focuserror signal based on a reflected portion of the laser beam that isreflected by an optical storage medium. Generator means for generating atrack error signal is included. Depth means for generating a depthestimation signal that is indicative of a land or groove depth of theoptical storage medium and is based on the focus error signal isincluded. Zero-crossing means for detecting a zero-crossing of the trackerror signal based on the depth estimation signal is also included.

In other features, the tracking system includes illumination means fordirecting the laser beam at the optical storage medium. Sensor means forreceiving the reflected portion of the laser beam and for generating asensor output signal is included. The focus loop generates the focuserror signal based on the sensor output signal.

In other features, the illumination means directs the laser beam at theoptical storage medium, which is selected from at least one of a compactdisc, a digital versatile/video disc, a read only medium, a recordablemedium and an optical storage medium.

In other features, the focus loop means generates the focus error signalbased on a difference between a first and second sensor output signals,which are based on the reflected portion.

In other features, the zero-crossing means corrects zero-crossings basedon a polarity of the track error signal and an amplitude of the depthestimation signal.

In other features, the depth means generates the depth estimation signalbased on a plant model of the focus loop. In other features, the plantmodel is based on a bode plot.

In other features, the tracking system includes tracking means forcounting track crossings based on a software algorithm when a seek speedis less than a predetermined speed. In other features, the trackingmeans counts track crossings based on the track error signal and thedepth estimation signal.

In other features, the tracking system includes tracking means forcounting track crossings based on a software algorithm when a seek speedis within a predetermined range.

In other features, the tracking system includes tracking means forcounting track crossings based on a hardware based algorithm when a seekspeed is greater than a predetermined maximum speed. In other features,the tracking means counts track crossings based on the focus errorsignal and the track error signal.

In other features, an optical drive is provided and includes one of theabove tracking systems. In other features, the optical drive includesmotor means for adjusting position of the laser beam.

In other features, the motor means adjusts position of the laser beam ata seek speed associated with a track crossing frequency that is greaterthan a disc distortion disturbance frequency.

In other features, a tracking system for a drive is provided andincludes. A beam positioning actuator that radially displaces a laserbeam relative to an optical storage medium. A control module thatincreases a seek speed of the laser beam positioning actuator to apredetermined speed based on a seek command signal. The control modulereduces the seek speed to a target speed when the laser beam is within apredetermined distance of a target position.

In other features, the tracking system includes an illumination devicethat generates the laser beam. In other features, the illuminationdevice directs the laser beam at the optical storage medium, which isselected from at least one of a compact disc, a digital versatile/videodisc, a high definition disc, a read only medium, a recordable mediumand an optical storage medium.

In other features, the control module activates a tracking loop to lockonto a target track when the target position is reached.

In other features, the tracking system includes a track counter thatcounts track crossings of the laser beam. In other features, the trackcounter counts track crossings during an increase of the seek speed. Inother features, the track counter counts track crossings based on afocus error signal. In other features, the track counter counts trackcrossings based on a track error signal. In other features, the trackcounter counts track crossings when the seek speed is less than thepredetermined speed. In other features, the track counter counts trackcrossings based on a depth estimation signal and a track error signal.In other features, the track counter counts track crossings when theseek speed is within a predetermined range.

In other features, the tracking system includes a sensor module thatreceives at least a reflected portion of the laser beam and generates asensor output signal. A focus module generates a focus error signalbased on the sensor output signal. The control module adjusts the seekspeed based on the focus error signal.

In other features, the tracking system includes a depth module thatgenerates a depth estimation signal based on the focus error signal anda plant model of a focus control loop.

In other features, the control module enables a hardware-based trackcounter when a track crossing frequency exceeds the predetermined speed.

In other features, the control module disables the hardware-based trackcounter and enables a software-based track counter when the trackcrossing frequency is below the predetermined speed.

In other features, an optical drive is provided and includes one of theabove tracking systems. In other features, the optical drive includes amotor arranged to rotate the optical storage medium, the control moduleenables the motor.

In other features, the optical drive includes a driver that communicateswith an illumination device. The control module communicates with thedriver and reads from or writes to the optical storage medium when thetracking loop is locked onto a target track associated with the targetposition via the illumination device.

In other features, a method of operating an optical drive is providedand includes radially displacing a laser beam relative to an opticalstorage medium. A seek speed of a laser beam positioning actuator isincreased to a predetermined speed based on a seek command signal. Theseek speed is reduced to a target speed when the laser beam is within apredetermined distance of a target position. In other features, themethod includes generating the laser beam.

In other features, the method includes activating a tracking loop tolock onto a target track when the target position is reached.

In other features, the method includes counting track crossings of thelaser beam. In other features, the method includes counting trackcrossings during an increase of the seek speed. In other features, themethod includes counting track crossings based on a focus error signal.In other features, the method includes counting track crossings based ona track error signal. In other features, the method includes countingtrack crossings when the seek speed is less than the predeterminedspeed. In other features, the method includes counting track crossingsbased on a depth estimation signal and a track error signal. In otherfeatures, the method includes counting track crossings when the seekspeed is within a predetermined range.

In other features, the method includes receiving a reflected portion ofthe laser beam and generating a sensor output signal. A focus errorsignal is generated based on the sensor output signal. The seek speed isadjusted based on the focus error signal.

In other features, the method includes generating a depth estimationsignal based on the focus error signal and a plant model of a focuscontrol loop.

In other features, the method includes enabling a hardware-based trackcounter when a track crossing frequency exceeds the predetermined speed.

In other features, the method includes disabling the hardware-basedtrack counter and enabling a software-based track counter when the trackcrossing frequency is below the predetermined speed.

In other features, the method includes reading from or writing to theoptical storage medium when the tracking loop is locked onto a targettrack associated with the target position.

In other features, a tracking system for a drive is provided andincludes beam positioning means for radially displaces a laser beamrelative to an optical storage medium. Control means for increasing aseek speed of the beam positioning means to a predetermined speed basedon a seek command signal is included. The control means reduces the seekspeed to a target speed when the laser beam is within a predetermineddistance of a target position.

In other features, the tracking system includes illumination means forgenerating the laser beam. In other features, the illumination meansdirects the laser beam at the optical storage medium, which is selectedfrom at least one of a compact disc, a digital versatile/video disc, ahigh definition disc, a read only medium, a recordable medium and anoptical storage medium.

In other features, the control means activates a tracking loop to lockonto a target track when the target position is reached.

In other features, the tracking system includes track counting meansthat counts track crossings of the laser beam. In other features, thetrack counting means track crossings during an increase of the seekspeed. In other features, the track counting means counts trackcrossings based on a focus error signal. In other features, the trackcounting means counts track crossings based on a track error signal.

In other features, the track counting means counts track crossings whenthe seek speed is less than the predetermined speed. In other features,the track counting means counts track crossings based on a depthestimation signal and a track error signal. In other features, the trackcounting means counts track crossings when the seek speed is within apredetermined range.

In other features, the tracking system includes sensor means forreceiving a reflected portion of the laser beam and generating a sensoroutput signal. Focus means for generating a focus error signal based onthe sensor output signal is included. The control means adjusts the seekspeed based on the focus error signal.

In other features, the tracking system includes a depth means forgenerating a depth estimation signal based on the focus error signal anda plant model of a focus control loop.

In other features, the control means enables a hardware-based trackcounter when a track crossing frequency exceeds the predetermined speed.In other features, the control means disables the hardware-based trackcounter and enables a software-based track counter when the trackcrossing frequency is below the predetermined speed.

In other features, an optical drive is provided and includes one of theabove tracking systems. In other features, the optical drive includesmotor means for rotating the optical storage medium. The control moduleenables the motor. In other features, the optical drive includes drivermeans for communicating with an illumination device. The control meanscommunicates with the driver and reads from or writes to the opticalstorage medium when the tracking loop is locked onto a target trackassociated with the target position via the illumination device.

In still other features, the systems and methods described above areimplemented by a computer program executed by one or more processors.The computer program can reside on a computer readable medium such asbut not limited to memory, non-volatile data storage and/or othersuitable tangible storage mediums.

Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the disclosure, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side close-up view of a recording media according to theprior art;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of an optical drive systemaccording to the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a quad photo-detector integrated circuit according to theprior art;

FIG. 4 is a track error signal graph according to the prior art;

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a relationship between track error signaland quadrature/quad-sum signal according to the prior art;

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of an optical drive according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of a tracking system portion of theoptical drive of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a focus servo/control loop representationof an optical drive;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a focus servo/control loop representationof an optical drive incorporating a focus depth estimation circuitaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a logic flow diagram illustrating a method of operating anoptical drive according multiple embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a seek velocity profile of an optical drive beam according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a DVD drive;

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of a vehicle control system; and

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of a set top box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no wayintended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. For purposesof clarity, the same reference numbers will be used in the drawings toidentify similar elements. As used herein, the term module refers to anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, aprocessor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one ormore software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit,and/or other suitable components that provide the describedfunctionality. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and Cshould be construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using anon-exclusive logical or. A software module or module that is softwarebased may refer to a set or series of software code, which are used toperform one or more tasks. It should be understood that steps within amethod may be executed in different order without altering theprinciples of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6, an optical drive 150 is shown. The drive 150 may befor example a digital versatile/video disc (DVD) drive, a compact disc(CD) drive or a high definition optical disc drive, such as a highdefinition DVD or a Blu-ray Disc (BD) drive. The drive 150 may include aprinted circuit board (PCB) 152 and a disc assembly (DA) 154. The PCB152 includes a control module 156, a buffer 158, nonvolatile memory 160,a processor 162, a spindle/FM (feed motor) driver module 164, an analogfront-end module 166, a write strategy module 168, and a DSP module 170.The drive 150 includes a tracking system 180 with a focus servo/controlloop 182. The focus loop 182 includes an optical device or opticalread/write circuit 184 that is part of the DA 154. The focus loop 182 isused in tracking a storage medium 186. This is described in furtherdetail below. The storage medium 186 may be for example a DVD, a CD, aread only medium, a recordable medium, an optical storage medium, and/orother known optical storage medium.

The control module 156 controls components of the DA 154 andcommunicates with an external device (not shown) via an I/O interface190. The external device may include a computer, a multimedia device, amobile computing device, etc. The I/O interface 190 may include wirelineand/or wireless communication links.

The control module 156 may receive data from the buffer 158, nonvolatilememory 160, the processor 162, the spindle/FM driver module 164, theanalog front-end module 166, the write strategy module 168, the DSPmodule 170, and/or the I/O interface 190. The processor 162 may processthe data, including encoding, decoding, filtering, and/or formatting.The DSP module 170 performs signal processing, such as video and/oraudio coding/decoding. The processed data may be output to the buffer158, nonvolatile memory 160, the processor 162, the spindle/FM drivermodule 164, the analog front-end module 166, the write strategy module168, the DSP module 170, and/or the I/O interface 190.

The control module 156 may use the buffer 158 and/or nonvolatile memory160 to store data related to the control and operation of the drive 150.The buffer 158 may include DRAM, SDRAM, etc. The nonvolatile memory 160may include flash memory (including NAND and NOR flash memory), phasechange memory, magnetic RAM, or multi-state memory, in which each memorycell has more than two states. The PCB 152 includes a power supply 192that provides power to the components of the drive 150.

The DA 154, in addition to the focus loop 182, may include apreamplifier device 200, an illumination device driver 202 and a feedmotor (FM)/sled radial motor 204. The illumination driver 202 may be,for example, a laser driver. A spindle motor 206 rotates the storagemedium 186. The feed motor 204 actuates the ORW 184, or a portionthereof, relative to the storage medium 186.

When reading data from the storage medium 186, the laser driver 202provides read power to the ORW 184. The ORW 184 detects data from thestorage medium 186, and transmits the data to the preamplifier device200. The analog front-end module 166 receives data from the preamplifierdevice 200 and performs such functions as filtering and A/D conversion.To write to the storage medium 186, the write strategy module 168transmits power level and timing information to the illumination driver202. The illumination driver 202 controls the ORW 184 to write data tothe storage medium 186.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a functional block diagram of a tracking systemportion 180 of the drive 150 is shown. The tracking system 180 includesthe control module 156 and the ORW 184, which is arranged in relation tothe storage medium 186. As shown, the storage medium 186 rotates about aspindle axis 240 via the spindle motor 206. The control module 156 inconjunction with the ORW 184 generates, directs and tracks the positionof a beam 242 on the storage medium 186.

The control module 156 includes one or more track counters 243, trackcounting algorithms 244, track counting software/firmware 246, and trackcounting hardware 248. The track counters 243 may be software/firmwareor hardware based and be separate from, part of, or include thealgorithms 244, software 246 and/or the hardware 248. The track countingalgorithms 244 may be part of, separate from, and/or used by thesoftware 246 and the hardware 248. The track counting algorithms 244 maybe stored in the memory 160. The control module 156 may also include atrack error module 249, a focus error module 250, a depth estimationmodule 251 and a zero-crossing detector 252. The modules 249-252 may bepart of the control module 156, as shown, may be stored in the memory160 or may be separate, stand alone software and/or hardware basedmodules. The modules 249-252 may be part of the algorithms 244, thesoftware 246 and the hardware 248. The modules are described withrespect to the embodiments of FIG. 10.

The ORW 184 includes an illumination device 254, such as a laser sourceor diode, which provides the beam 242. The ORW 184 also includes acollimator lens 256, a polarizing beam splitter 258, a quarter waveplate 260, and an objective lens 262 and/or other beam forming,filtering and directing devices. The beam 242 is collimated by thecollimator lens 256 and passed through the polarizing beam splitter 258.The beam 242 is received by the quarter wave plate 260 from the beamsplitter 258 and is focused via the objective lens 262. The beam 242 maybe radially displaced across tracks of the storage medium 186. Thisdisplacement may be performed through movement of the objective lens262, via a focus control circuit 270, and/or through movement of the ORW184, via the FM/sled motor 204. The beam 242 is shaped and focused toform a spot over land/groove structures of the storage medium 186 via afocus control circuit 270. The land/groove structures are on a recordinglayer of the storage medium 186. A sample of land and groove structuresis shown in FIG. 1.

The light from the beam 242 is reflected off of the storage medium 186and directed back into the ORW 184. The reflected light, represented bythe dashed lines 272 is redirected by the beam splitter 258 and focusedinto a spot over a sensor 280 by an astigmatic focus lens 282. Thesensor 280 may be in the form of a photo-detector integrated circuit(PDIC), such as that shown in FIG. 3 or may be some other lightdetection device known in the art. The sensor may include any number oflight sensitive elements. Additional photo-detectors may be incorporatedand used to detect other diffracted light beams not shown.

The focus control circuit 270 includes a control filter 290, whichreceives a focus loop control signal F_(tgt) from the control module156. The control filter 290 generates a filtered loop control signal FLthat is converted to an analog signal by a digital-to-analog converter(DAC) 292. In response to the filtered control signal FL, a motor driver294 generates the appropriate drive signal DS to operate lensactuators/focus motors 296. The focus motors are connected to theobjective lens 262. Operation of the focus motors 296 adjustsorientation, position and thus associated focus of the objective lens262.

Referring now also to FIG. 8, a focus servo/control loop representation300 of an optical drive is shown. The focus loop 300 includes a firstsummer 302, a control filter 304, a focus control circuit 306, a secondsummer 307 and a photo-sensor and focus error (FE) generator 308, whichare coupled in series. The control filter 304 has a filter transferfunction C. The focus control circuit 306 may be similar to the focuscontrol circuit 270 and has a control circuit transfer function P. TheFE generator 308 has a generator transfer function G. The second summer307 and the FE generator 308 are in a feedback arrangement relative tothe control filter 304 and the focus control circuit 306.

In operation, the focus loop 300 receives a focus control signalF_(tgt). A focus error signal FE is subtracted from the focus controlsignal F_(tgt) to generate an error signal E via a first summer 302. Theerror signal E is received by the control filter 304. The control filter304 generates a filtered output signal Y. The filtered output signal Yis received by the focus control circuit 306, which adjusts position ofan objective lens, such as the objective lens 262 of FIG. 7.

A focus position signal F_(p) is shown as an output of the focus controlcircuit 306 and represents the focus position of the objective lens. Thefocus position signal F_(p) is a physical parameter that is not actuallymeasured or generated and is, in other words, an unknown signal. Thesecond summer 307 sums the focus position signal F_(p) with a focusdepth modulation signal F_(d). The depth signal F_(d) is associated withthe depths of the lands and grooves of a storage medium. The depthsignal F_(d) is also not actually measured or generated, and thus is anunknown signal. The sum of the focus position signal F_(p) and the depthsignal F_(d) is provided to the FE generator 308, which generates thefocus error signal FE. The FE generator 308 receives the sensor outputsignals P_(a)−P_(d), which in effect represent the sum of the focusposition signal F_(p) and the depth signal F_(d).

In a storage medium of the type shown in FIG. 1 or the like, the landsand grooves are separated in depth from the surface of the storagemedium by a fraction of associated optical wavelengths. As such, thelocation of the lands relative to the grooves can be detected based onthe focus loop error signal FE. With respect to the embodiment of FIG.7, since the astigmatic focus lens 282 is used over the sensor 280, thetracking system 180 is able to derive the focus error signal FE usingequation 3.FE=(P _(a) +P _(c))−(P _(b)+P_(d))  (3)Depending on the type of astigmatic lens used, the polarity of the focuserror signal FE may be reversed to enable negative feedback in anassociated focus control loop as shown in equation 4.FE=(P _(b) +P _(d))−(P _(a)+P_(c))  (4)

Although the focus error signal FE may be determined, this alone may notprovide the focus position signal F_(p), which is desired to determinethe location of the lands relative to the grooves. Since it is generallyimpractical to add hardware to the focus control circuit 270 for directposition measurement, a position estimation technique is implemented.The focus position signal F_(p) is indirectly determined and used toestimate the depth signal F_(d). This estimation technique is describedin further detail below.

Normally, the control signal F_(tgt) is approximately equal to zero,thus in review of the focus control loop, the error signal E and thefocus error signal FE are related as shown in equation 5:E=0−FE=−FE  (5)In addition, the focus control signal FE is also equal to the productsof the error signal E, the filter transfer function C and the controlcircuit transfer function P, summed with the depth signal F_(d), andfurther multiplied by the generator transfer function G. This is shownin equation 6.FE=(E*C*P+Fd)*G  (6)

By substituting for the focus error signal FE in equation 6 with theerror signal E in equation 5, equation 7 is derived.−E=(E*C*P+Fd)*G  (7)

Solving for the depth signal F_(d), from equation 7, provides equation 8and/or equation 9.F _(d) =[−E*(1+C*P*G)]/G  (8)F _(d) =−E/G−Y*P  (9)

A plant model P_(m) of the focus control circuit 306 is used todetermine the depth signal F_(d). The plant model P_(m) represents theprocess of the focus control circuit 306. The plant model is an internalmodel that allows the control module 156 to forecast future processbehavior and respective output constraints of the focus control circuit306. The plant model P_(m) may be obtained using a Bode plot technique.Bode plots are in general known and used in signal processing to graphlog magnitudes against log frequencies to show a transfer function orfrequency response of a linear, time-invariant system, and thus are notfurther described herein. The plant model P_(m) may be obtained aftersome measurement and may be stored in a memory, such as the memory 160of FIG. 6.

Referring now also to FIG. 9, a focus servo/control loop representation350 of an optical drive incorporating a focus depth estimation circuit352 is shown. The depth estimation circuit 352 provides a depthestimation signal F_(d) _(—) _(est) of the lands and grooves of astorage medium of concern. The depth estimation circuit 352 is thetransfer function circuit representation of equations 8 and 9. The depthestimation signal F_(d) _(—) _(est), along with other generated signals,may be used to track a beam of an optical drive.

The focus loop 350 includes the control filter 304, the control circuit306, the summers 302, 307 and the generator 308, which are coupled in afeedback arrangement similar to the focus loop 300. The depth estimationcircuit 352 includes an inverted generator 354 and a plant modelgenerator 356. The inverted generator 354 has a transfer function 1/G.The plant model generator 356 has the plant model transfer functionP_(m). The generator transfer function 1/G and the plant model transferfunction P_(m) are known to or accessible by the control module 156. Theerror signal E is received and multiplied by the inverted generatorfunction 1/G and summed with the product of the filtered error signal Yand the plant model transfer function P_(m). The result is the depthestimation signal F_(d) _(—) _(est).

The depth estimation signal F_(d) _(—) _(est) can be used to replace thequad-sum (QSUM) signal, described with respect to FIG. 5, for countingtrack crossings in conjunction with a track error (TE) signal. However,certain signal features in the depth estimation signal F_(d) _(—) _(est)can come from disc-warpage, which also causes a change in the focusposition. The signal component from disc-warpage can be larger inmagnitude than the depth signal change due to land/groove differences.Fortunately, focus depth change due to disc distortion is at a lowerfrequency than a normal tracking crossing frequency. For this reason,local peak values in the depth estimation signal F_(d) _(—) _(est) maybe monitored for track counting purposes. The peaks may be monitored bythe track counting algorithm 244.

Another technique that may be used to account for disc-warpage is tohigh-pass filter and remove an expected once-around, or several timesaround, depending on the type of warpage, signal from the depth signalF_(d) _(—) _(est). When this technique is used, the depth signal F_(d)_(—) _(est) is used when the track-crossing frequency is significantlyhigher than the disturbance frequency caused by disc-warpage.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, a logic flow diagram illustrating amethod of operating an optical drive and a sample seek velocity profile370 of an optical drive beam are shown. The profile 370, as shown, has 7segments S₁-S₇ and three seek velocity zones, namely zones₁₋₃. Each zonehas an associated seek velocity range and time components, as well asassociated tasks that are performed while operating in that zone.

In step 400, control initiates a normal track following mode. Controloperates a sled motor, such as the sled motor 204, at a speed associatedwith normal track following. Velocity of the sled motor in normal trackfollowing mode is represented by the first segment S₁.

In step 402, an illumination device, such as the source 254, generates abeam that is directed at a storage medium.

In step 404, a sensor, such as the sensor 280, receives at least areflected portion of the beam and generates sensor output signals orbeam detection signals. Steps 402 and 404 may be performed continuouslyand/or simultaneously with any and all of the steps described herein.

In step 406, the control module generates a seek command signal thatdirects the sled motor to move to a selected storage medium track.

In step 408, one or more motors adjust a position of the beam at a seekspeed. The seek speed is directly related to a track crossing frequency,which is greater than a disc distortion disturbance frequency. In step408A, the control module increases a seek speed of a beam positioningactuator to a predetermined minimum speed based on the seek commandsignal. For robust performance, the radial seek operation is initiatedupon receipt of the seek command signal using a seek speed that isgreater than or equal to a pre-determined minimum seek speed. Thisoperation may occur when a decision is made to seek to a track that is alarge number of track counts away from a current track. Such operation,enables track counting to be done correctly upon initiation of thestated seek. The seek speed increase is shown and represented by thesecond segment S₂ and is associated with zone₁. The optical drive isminimally operated in zone₁. In step 408B, the seek speed may becontinuously increased at varying rate up to a peak seek speed and thenheld approximately constant. The peak seek speed is represented by theforth segment S₄.

In step 409, a control module, such as the control module 156, generatesa FE signal based on the sensor output signals. The focus error signalis based on focus loop beam adjustment. In step 410, a track errorgenerator, such as the track error module 249, generates a TE signalbased on sensor output signals. In step 412, a depth estimation module,such as the depth estimation module 251, generates a depth estimationsignal F_(d) _(—) _(est) based on the FE signal. The depth estimationsignal F_(d) _(—) _(est) may be based on a plant model of a focus loop,such as the focus loop 182.

In step 414, the control module generates a tracking signal based on theTE signal, the focus error signal and the depth estimation signal F_(d)_(—) _(est). The tracking signal indicates the current track of thebeam. The FE signal, the TE signal, the depth estimation signal F_(d)_(—) _(est) and the tracking signal are generated continuously and maybe generated simultaneously with any and all of the steps describedherein.

In step 414A, a zero-crossing detector, such as the zero-crossingdetector 252, detects zero-crossings of the TE signal based on the depthestimation signal F_(d) _(—) _(est). The depth estimation signal F_(d)_(—) _(est) provides transition information between lands and grooves ofthe storage medium, which may be compared with the track error signalTE. The zero-crossing detector corrects zero-crossings based on polarityof the TE signal and amplitude of the depth estimation signal F_(d) _(—)_(est).

In step 414B, the control module counts the track crossings during seek.The control module may use track counters, a track counting algorithm,software/firmware and/or hardware, such as the counters 243, thealgorithm 244, the software 246 and/or the hardware 248, to count thetrack crossings. Although it may be easier or less costly to implement aplant model in software, software can be speed limited, depending uponthe sampling rate of the software. Thus, hardware may be used to counttrack crossing when above a software maximum speed. Example embodimentsare described below for software and hardware tracking.

In step 414-B1, the control module compares the seek speed with a firstpredetermined or minimum seek speed. When the seek speed is less thanthe minimum seek speed the control module proceeds to step 414-B2,otherwise the control module proceeds to step 414-B3. In step 414-B2,the track counters count the track crossings based on a softwarealgorithm. Such tracking is performed while in zone₁ and is associatedwith the second segment S₂. In step 414-B3, the control module comparesthe seek speed with a second predetermined or maximum seek speed. Whenthe seek speed is less than the maximum seek speed the control moduleproceeds to step 414-B4, otherwise the control module proceeds to step414-B5.

In step 414-B4, the track counters count the track crossings based on asoftware algorithm. Such tracking is associated with zone₂ and a firstportion of the third segment S_(3A). In steps 414-B2 and B4, when theseek speed is less than the minimum seek speed and/or the maximum seekspeed, the track counters count track crossings based on the TE signaland the depth estimation signal F_(d) _(—) _(est).

In step 414-B5, the control module counts the track crossings based on ahardware based algorithm. When the track crossing speed exceeds themaximum seek speed, a hardware based track counter is enabled thatutilizes the FE signal and the TE signal for track counting. Suchtracking is associated with zone₃ and a second portion of the thirdsegment S_(3B). Fortunately, at higher track crossing speeds, where thefrequency of the track crossing signal exceeds the bandwidth of thefocus loop, the FE signal has a phase value that approaches the depthestimation signal F_(d) _(—) _(est) or —F_(d) _(—) _(est). Thus, the FEsignal may be used to directly drive a hardware track counter, therebyreplacing the QSUM signal that is traditionally used to assist trackcounting.

In step 416, the control module reduces the seek speed to a targetminimum speed when the beam is within a predetermined distance of atarget position. The target minimum speed may be the same as thepredetermined minimum speed. Such tracking is associated with zone₂,zone₃ and the fifth segment S₅.

In step 418, when the track crossing frequency is less than the secondpre-determined threshold, or within a range where the software is ableto take over the track counting, the control module disables thehardware based counter and enables the software based counter for trackcounting continuance.

In step 420, prior to reaching the final track count value, the sledmotor is decelerated. The radial seek operation is terminated using aspeed limit prior to a final track-lock. The seek speed is reduced belowthe speed limit to assure proper beam positioning relative to a targettrack. This further improves performance robustness.

In step 422, the control module activates a tracking loop to lock ontothe target track when the target position of the beam is reached. Thetracking loop has enough bandwidth to successfully lock on when the seekspeed is between the targeted minimum speed and zero.

In step 424, the control module reads from or writes to the storagemedium based on the tracking signal when the tracking loop is lockedonto the target track. The control module may use a write strategymodule and illumination device driver, such as the write strategy module168 and the driver 202, when writing to the storage medium.

The above-described steps are meant to be illustrative examples; thesteps may be performed sequentially, synchronously, simultaneously, orin a different order depending upon the application.

Referring now to FIGS. 12-14, various exemplary implementationsincorporating the teachings of the present disclosure are shown.

Referring now to FIG. 12, the teachings of the disclosure can beimplemented in a DVD PCB 519 and a DVD assembly (DVDA) 520 and inassociation with a DVD control module 521 and an ORW 533 of a DVD drive518 or of a CD drive (not shown). The tracking system techniquesdescribed above may be may be implemented in the DVD drive 518. The DVDdrive 518 includes the DVD PCB 519 and the DVDA 520. The DVD PCB 519includes the DVD control module 521, a buffer 522, nonvolatile memory523, a processor 524, a spindle/FM (feed motor) driver module 525, ananalog front-end module 526, a write strategy module 527, and a DSPmodule 528.

The DVD control module 521 controls components of the DVDA 520 andcommunicates with an external device (not shown) via an I/O interface529. The external device may include a computer, a multimedia device, amobile computing device, etc. The I/O interface 529 may include wirelineand/or wireless communication links.

The DVD control module 521 may receive data from the buffer 522,nonvolatile memory 523, the processor 524, the spindle/FM driver module525, the analog front-end module 526, the write strategy module 527, theDSP module 528, and/or the I/O interface 529. The processor 524 mayprocess the data, including encoding, decoding, filtering, and/orformatting. The DSP module 528 performs signal processing, such as videoand/or audio coding/decoding. The processed data may be output to thebuffer 522, nonvolatile memory 523, the processor 524, the spindle/FMdriver module 525, the analog front-end module 526, the write strategymodule 527, the DSP module 528, and/or the I/O interface 529.

The DVD control module 521 may use the buffer 522 and/or nonvolatilememory 523 to store data related to the control and operation of the DVDdrive 518. The buffer 522 may include DRAM, SDRAM, etc. The nonvolatilememory 523 may include flash memory (including NAND and NOR flashmemory), phase change memory, magnetic RAM, or multi-state memory, inwhich each memory cell has more than two states. The DVD PCB 519includes a power supply 530 that provides power to the components of theDVD drive 518.

The DVDA 520 may include a preamplifier device 531, a laser driver 532,and the optical device 533, which may be an optical read/write (ORW)device or an optical read-only (OR) device. A spindle motor 534 rotatesan optical storage medium 535, and a feed motor 536 actuates the opticaldevice 533 relative to the optical storage medium 535.

When reading data from the optical storage medium 535, the laser driverprovides a read power to the optical device 533. The optical device 533detects data from the optical storage medium 535, and transmits the datato the preamplifier device 531. The analog front-end module 526 receivesdata from the preamplifier device 531 and performs such functions asfiltering and A/D conversion. To write to the optical storage medium535, the write strategy module 527 transmits power level and timing datato the laser driver 532. The laser driver 532 controls the opticaldevice 533 to write data to the optical storage medium 535.

Referring now to FIG. 13, the teachings of the disclosure may beimplemented in a drive of a vehicle 546 to track the position of a beam.The drive may include a vehicle control system 547 and a storage device550. The vehicle 546 may include the vehicle control system 547, a powersupply 548, memory 549, the storage device 550, and a network interface552. If the network interface 552 includes a wireless local area networkinterface, an antenna (not shown) may be included. The vehicle controlsystem 547 may be a powertrain control system, a body control system, anentertainment control system, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), anavigation system, a telematics system, a lane departure system, anadaptive cruise control system, etc.

The vehicle control system 547 may communicate with one or more sensors554 and generate one or more output signals 556. The sensors 554 mayinclude temperature sensors, acceleration sensors, pressure sensors,rotational sensors, airflow sensors, etc. The output signals 556 maycontrol engine operating parameters, transmission operating parameters,suspension parameters, etc.

The power supply 548 provides power to the components of the vehicle546. The vehicle control system 547 may store data in memory 549 and/orthe storage device 550. Memory 549 may include random access memory(RAM) and/or nonvolatile memory such as flash memory, phase changememory, or multi-state memory, in which each memory cell has more thantwo states. The storage device 550 may include an optical storage drive,such as a DVD drive, and/or a hard disk drive (HDD). The vehicle controlsystem 547 may communicate externally using the network interface 552.

Referring now to FIG. 14, the teachings of the disclosure can beimplemented in a in a drive of a set top box 578 to track the positionof a beam. The drive may include a set top control module 587 and astorage device 584. The set top box 578 includes a set top controlmodule 580, a display 581, a power supply 582, memory 583, a storagedevice 584, and a network interface 585. If the network interface 585includes a wireless local area network interface, an antenna (not shown)may be included.

The set top control module 580 may receive input signals from thenetwork interface 585 and an external interface 587, which can send andreceive data via cable, broadband Internet, and/or satellite. The settop control module 580 may process signals, including encoding,decoding, filtering, and/or formatting, and generate output signals. Theoutput signals may include audio and/or video signals in standard and/orhigh definition formats. The output signals may be communicated to thenetwork interface 585 and/or to the display 581. The display 581 mayinclude a television, a projector, and/or a monitor.

The power supply 582 provides power to the components of the set top box578. Memory 583 may include random access memory (RAM) and/ornonvolatile memory such as flash memory, phase change memory, ormulti-state memory, in which each memory cell has more than two states.The storage device 584 may include an optical storage drive, such as aDVD drive, and/or a hard disk drive (HDD).

Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoingdescription that the broad teachings of the disclosure can beimplemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosureincludes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure shouldnot be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to theskilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, the specification andthe following claims.

1. A tracking system for a drive, the tracking system comprising: a beampositioning actuator configured to radially displace a laser beamrelative to an optical storage medium; a control module configured toincrease a seek speed of the beam positioning actuator to apredetermined speed based on a seek command signal to move the laserbeam to a target position on the optical storage medium, and reduce theseek speed of the beam positioning actuator from the predetermined speedresponsive to the laser beam being radially displaced within apredetermined distance of the target position on the optical storagemedium; and a track counter configured to, based on a depth estimationsignal and while the seek speed of the beam positioning actuator is lessthan a predetermined speed, (i) count a number of tracks on the opticalstorage medium, and (ii) count a number of tracks crossed by the laserbeam.
 2. The tracking system of claim 1, further comprising anillumination device configured to generate the laser beam.
 3. Thetracking system of claim 2, wherein the illumination device isconfigured to direct the laser beam at the optical storage medium,wherein the optical storage medium comprises at least one of a compactdisc, a digital versatile/video disc, a high definition disc, a readonly medium, or a recordable medium.
 4. The tracking system of claim 1,wherein the control module is configured to activate a tracking loop tolock onto a target track of the optical storage medium responsive to thelaser beam being radially displaced within the predetermined distance ofthe target position on the optical storage medium.
 5. The trackingsystem of claim 1, wherein the track counter is configured to count thenumber of tracks crossed by the laser beam during an increase of theseek speed of the beam positioning actuator.
 6. The tracking system ofclaim 1, wherein the track counter is configured to count, based on afocus error signal, the number of tracks crossed during the increase ofthe seek speed of the beam positioning actuator.
 7. The tracking systemof claim 1, wherein the track counter is configured to count, based on atrack error signal, the number of tracks crossed during the increase ofthe seek speed of the beam positioning actuator.
 8. The tracking systemof claim 1, wherein the track counter is configured, based on a trackerror signal, count the number of tracks crossed by the laser beam whilethe seek speed of the beam positioning actuator is less than thepredetermined speed.
 9. The tracking system of claim 1, furthercomprising: a sensor module is configured to generate a sensor outputsignal based on a portion of the laser beam reflected from the opticalstorage medium; and a focus module configured to generate a focus errorsignal based on the sensor output signal, wherein the control module isconfigured to adjust the seek speed of the beam positioning actuatorbased on the focus error signal.
 10. The tracking system of claim 1,wherein the depth estimation signal indicates a depth of a land or agroove on the optical storage medium.
 11. The tracking system of claim1, further comprising: a focus error generator configured to generate afocus error signal; and a depth estimation module configured to generatethe depth estimation signal based on the focus error signal.
 12. Anoptical drive comprising the tracking system of claim
 4. 13. The opticaldrive of claim 12, further comprising a motor configured to rotate theoptical storage medium, wherein the control module is configured toenable the motor to rotate the optical storage medium.
 14. A method ofoperating an optical drive, the method comprising: using a laser beampositioning actuator to radially displace a laser beam relative to anoptical storage medium; and increasing a seek speed of the laser beampositioning actuator to a predetermined speed based on a seek commandsignal to move the laser beam to a target position on the opticalstorage medium; reducing the seek speed the laser beam positioningactuator from the predetermined speed responsive to the laser beam beingradially displaced within a predetermined distance of the targetposition on the optical storage medium; and based on a depth estimationsignal and while the seek speed of the beam positioning actuator is lessthan a predetermined speed, (i) count a number of tracks on the opticalstorage medium, and (ii) count a number of tracks crossed by the laserbeam.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising activating atracking loop to lock onto a target track on the optical storage mediumresponsive to the laser beam being radially displaced within thepredetermined distance of the target position on the optical storagemedium.
 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising: counting, basedon a first algorithm and while a track counting frequency is greaterthan or equal to a predetermined threshold, the number of tracks (i) onthe optical storage medium, and (ii) crossed by the laser beam; andcounting based on a second algorithm and while the track countingfrequency is less than the predetermined threshold, the number of tracks(i) on the optical storage medium, and (ii) crossed by the laser beam.